ROSEVILLE, CALIF. (Oct. 8, 2008) - UFCW 8-Golden State President Jacques Loveall announced today that the union is expanding its informational picketing campaign against non-Union Foods Co stores to Fresno.

Union volunteers established an informational picket line at the non-Union Foods Co store at 3053 East Shields Ave. this morning.

“The decision by Foods Co to open new stores non-Union is hostile and anti-worker,” Loveall said. “It poses a threat to Union market share and to the high standards of our members' Union wages and benefits. We will not allow that to happen.”

UFCW 8 volunteers and community activists have picketed a non-Union Foods Co store in South Sacramento since last July, handing leaflets to shoppers and distributed fliers to homes in the area.

Loveall said the Union is asking the public not to shop at non-Union Foods Co stores and to shop instead at Union stores, such as Save Mart, Safeway, Vons and Raley's.

“Our members are prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure that all workers at these and other non-Union Foods Co stores have the same access to the good pay, health care, pension and job security enjoyed by Union members,” Loveall said.

UFCW 8-Golden State represents some 30,000 members who work in stores, plants and offices from the California-Oregon border in the north to Kern County in the south.